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Cornerstone OnDemand Inc. – ‘10-K’ for 12/31/20 – ‘EX-101.DEF’

On:  Monday, 2/22/21, at 4:02pm ET   ·   For:  12/31/20   ·   Accession #:  1401680-21-11   ·   File #:  1-35098

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size

 2/22/21  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-K       12/31/20  122:11M

Annual Report   —   Form 10-K
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: 10-K        Annual Report                                       HTML   1.38M 
 2: EX-4.1      Instrument Defining the Rights of Security Holders  HTML     41K 
 3: EX-10.25    Material Contract                                   HTML     34K 
 4: EX-21.1     Subsidiaries List                                   HTML     32K 
 5: EX-23.1     Consent of Expert or Counsel                        HTML     31K 
 6: EX-31.1     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     37K 
 7: EX-31.2     Certification -- §302 - SOA'02                      HTML     37K 
 8: EX-32.1     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     32K 
 9: EX-32.2     Certification -- §906 - SOA'02                      HTML     32K 
16: R1          Cover                                               HTML     97K 
17: R2          Consolidated Balance Sheets                         HTML    135K 
18: R3          Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)         HTML     33K 
19: R4          Consolidated Statements of Operations               HTML     93K 
20: R5          Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss       HTML     58K 
21: R6          Consolidated Statements of Changes in               HTML     99K 
                Stockholders? Equity                                             
22: R7          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows               HTML    145K 
23: R8          Organization                                        HTML     37K 
24: R9          Summary of Significant Accounting Policies          HTML    101K 
25: R10         Business Combinations                               HTML     86K 
26: R11         Debt                                                HTML     66K 
27: R12         Net Loss Per Share                                  HTML     52K 
28: R13         Cash and Investments                                HTML     91K 
29: R14         Intangible Assets and Goodwill                      HTML     69K 
30: R15         Restructuring                                       HTML     42K 
31: R16         Other Balance Sheet Amounts                         HTML     54K 
32: R17         Fair Value of Financial Instruments                 HTML     88K 
33: R18         Stockholders? Equity                                HTML     41K 
34: R19         Stock-Based Awards                                  HTML    107K 
35: R20         Income Taxes                                        HTML    120K 
36: R21         Commitments and Contingencies                       HTML     38K 
37: R22         Leases                                              HTML     55K 
38: R23         Deferred Revenue and Remaining Performance          HTML     38K 
                Obligations                                                      
39: R24         401(K) Savings Plan                                 HTML     38K 
40: R25         Segment and Geographic Information                  HTML     62K 
41: R26         Related Party Transactions                          HTML     35K 
42: R27         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies          HTML    157K 
                (Policies)                                                       
43: R28         Summary of Significant Accounting Policies          HTML     42K 
                (Tables)                                                         
44: R29         Business Combinations (Tables)                      HTML     83K 
45: R30         Debt (Tables)                                       HTML     59K 
46: R31         Net Loss Per Share (Tables)                         HTML     53K 
47: R32         Cash and Investments (Tables)                       HTML     94K 
48: R33         Intangible Assets and Goodwill (Tables)             HTML     72K 
49: R34         Restructuring (Tables)                              HTML     42K 
50: R35         Other Balance Sheet Amounts (Tables)                HTML     54K 
51: R36         Fair Value of Financial Instruments (Tables)        HTML     87K 
52: R37         Stockholders? Equity (Tables)                       HTML     38K 
53: R38         Stock-Based Awards (Tables)                         HTML    112K 
54: R39         Income Taxes (Tables)                               HTML    123K 
55: R40         Leases (Tables)                                     HTML     61K 
56: R41         Segment and Geographic Information (Tables)         HTML     61K 
57: R42         ORGANIZATION - Narrative (Details)                  HTML     34K 
58: R43         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     33K 
                Advertising (Details)                                            
59: R44         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     34K 
                Share-Based Compensation (Details)                               
60: R45         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     33K 
                Capitalized Software Costs (Details)                             
61: R46         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     42K 
                Allowance for Credit Losses (Details)                            
62: R47         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     37K 
                Property and Equipment (Details)                                 
63: R48         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     37K 
                Impairment, Intangible Assets, and Goodwill                      
                (Details)                                                        
64: R49         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     47K 
                Convertible Notes (Details)                                      
65: R50         SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -        HTML     36K 
                Foreign Currency Transactions and Translation                    
                (Details)                                                        
66: R51         BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Additional Information      HTML     73K 
                (Details)                                                        
67: R52         BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Assets Acquired and         HTML     90K 
                Liabilities assumed (Details)                                    
68: R53         BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Identifiable Intangible     HTML     51K 
                Assets (Details)                                                 
69: R54         BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Pro Forma Information       HTML     37K 
                (Details)                                                        
70: R55         BUSINESS COMBINATIONS - Allocation of Purchase      HTML     55K 
                Price (Details)                                                  
71: R56         DEBT - Additional Information (Detail)              HTML    103K 
72: R57         DEBT - Summary of Net Carrying Amount of Debt       HTML     47K 
                (Details)                                                        
73: R58         DEBT - Schedule of Interest Expense Recognized      HTML     46K 
                (Details)                                                        
74: R59         NET LOSS PER SHARE - Basic and Diluted Loss Per     HTML     44K 
                Share (Details)                                                  
75: R60         NET LOSS PER SHARE - Anti-dilutive Shares Excluded  HTML     46K 
                From Calculation (Details)                                       
76: R61         CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Schedule of Cash, Cash       HTML    101K 
                Equivalents, and Investments (Details)                           
77: R62         CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Long-Term Investments        HTML     40K 
                (Details)                                                        
78: R63         CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Non-Marketable Investments   HTML     38K 
                (Details)                                                        
79: R64         INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Gross Carrying     HTML     57K 
                Amount and Accumulated Amortization of                           
                Finite-lived Intangible Assets (Details)                         
80: R65         INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Additional         HTML     37K 
                Information (Details)                                            
81: R66         INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Estimated          HTML     48K 
                Remaining Intangible Asset Amortization (Details)                
82: R67         INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND GOODWILL - Goodwill           HTML     41K 
                (Details)                                                        
83: R68         Restructuring (Details)                             HTML     54K 
84: R69         OTHER BALANCE SHEET AMOUNTS - Property and          HTML     59K 
                Equipment (Details)                                              
85: R70         OTHER BALANCE SHEET AMOUNTS - Narrative (Details)   HTML     41K 
86: R71         OTHER BALANCE SHEET AMOUNTS - Accrued Expenses      HTML     45K 
                (Details)                                                        
87: R72         FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Summary of    HTML     88K 
                Asset and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value                     
                (Detail)                                                         
88: R73         FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Additional    HTML     52K 
                Information (Detail)                                             
89: R74         FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Income for    HTML     41K 
                Derivative Instruments (Details)                                 
90: R75         FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS - Derivative    HTML     41K 
                Liabilities (Details)                                            
91: R76         Stockholders? Equity (Details)                      HTML     55K 
92: R77         Stockholders? Equity - Share Repurchase Activity    HTML     38K 
                (Details)                                                        
93: R78         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - Narrative (Details)            HTML     91K 
94: R79         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - Summary of Stock Option        HTML     80K 
                Activity (Details)                                               
95: R80         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - Restricted Stock and           HTML     64K 
                Performance-Based Stock Units (Details)                          
96: R81         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - ESPP Activity (Details)        HTML     39K 
97: R82         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - Stock Option Pricing Model     HTML     53K 
                (Details)                                                        
98: R83         STOCK-BASED AWARDS - Schedule of Stock-Based        HTML     63K 
                Compensation Expense (Details)                                   
99: R84         INCOME TAXES - Components of Income Before Taxes    HTML     40K 
                (Details)                                                        
100: R85         INCOME TAXES - Components of Income Tax Provision   HTML     60K  
                (Details)                                                        
101: R86         INCOME TAXES - Components of Effective Income Tax   HTML     58K  
                Reconciliation (Details)                                         
102: R87         INCOME TAXES - Additional Information (Details)     HTML     47K  
103: R88         INCOME TAXES - Components of Deferred Tax Assets    HTML     72K  
                and Liabilities (Details)                                        
104: R89         INCOME TAXES - Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax   HTML     43K  
                Benefits (Details)                                               
105: R90         Commitments and Contingencies (Details)             HTML     40K  
106: R91         LEASES - Narrative (Details)                        HTML     38K  
107: R92         LEASES - Components of Lease Expense (Details)      HTML     38K  
108: R93         LEASES - Supplemental Cash Flow Information         HTML     36K  
                (Details)                                                        
109: R94         LEASES - Supplemental Balance Sheet Information of  HTML     36K  
                Operating Leases (Details) (Details)                             
110: R95         LEASES - Maturities of Operating Lease Liabilities  HTML     51K  
                (Details)                                                        
111: R96         Deferred Revenue and Remaining Performance          HTML     43K  
                Obligations (Details)                                            
112: R97         401(K) Savings Plan (Details)                       HTML     39K  
113: R98         Segment and Geographic Information (Details)        HTML     34K  
114: R99         Segment and Geographic Information - Sources of     HTML     41K  
                Revenue (Details)                                                
115: R100        SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Revenue by     HTML     41K  
                Geographic Region (Details)                                      
116: R101        SEGMENT AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION - Property and   HTML     42K  
                Equipment by Geographic Region (Details)                         
117: R102        Related Party Transactions (Details)                HTML     33K  
118: R9999       Uncategorized Items - csod-20201231.htm             HTML     37K  
120: XML         IDEA XML File -- Filing Summary                      XML    223K  
15: XML         XBRL Instance -- csod-20201231_htm                   XML   2.79M 
119: EXCEL       IDEA Workbook of Financial Reports                  XLSX    149K  
11: EX-101.CAL  XBRL Calculations -- csod-20201231_cal               XML    377K 
12: EX-101.DEF  XBRL Definitions -- csod-20201231_def                XML    820K 
13: EX-101.LAB  XBRL Labels -- csod-20201231_lab                     XML   2.13M 
14: EX-101.PRE  XBRL Presentations -- csod-20201231_pre              XML   1.35M 
10: EX-101.SCH  XBRL Schema -- csod-20201231                         XSD    207K 
121: JSON        XBRL Instance as JSON Data -- MetaLinks              519±   793K  
122: ZIP         XBRL Zipped Folder -- 0001401680-21-000011-xbrl      Zip    566K  


‘EX-101.DEF’   —   XBRL Definitions — csod-20201231_def


This Exhibit is an XBRL XML File.


                                                                                                                                                                                
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3 Subsequent Filings that Reference this Filing

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 9/10/21  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         DEFM14A                1:4.2M                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 8/30/21  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         PREM14A     8/30/21    1:4.2M                                   Broadridge Fin’l So… Inc
 5/06/21  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        3/31/21   98:11M


19 Previous Filings that this Filing References

  As Of               Filer                 Filing    For·On·As Docs:Size             Issuer                      Filing Agent

 8/10/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        6/30/20   92:66M
 7/02/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         S-3ASR      7/02/20    6:276K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 5/11/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:2,5,9   5/11/20   15:765K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 4/22/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:1,2,8,9 4/22/20   12:183K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 4/17/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:5       4/16/20   10:147K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/26/20  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:1,9     2/24/20   13:1.2M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/05/19  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        6/30/19   79:7.4M
 6/14/19  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:5,9     6/11/19    2:307K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/07/18  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        6/30/18   66:6.9M
 6/20/18  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:5,9     6/14/18    3:203K                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 2/27/18  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-K       12/31/17  108:11M
12/08/17  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         8-K:1,2,5,912/08/17    3:1.6M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
 8/05/16  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        6/30/16   61:4.7M
 8/07/13  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        6/30/13  101:7M
 5/09/13  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-Q        3/31/13   56:4.3M
 3/06/12  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         10-K       12/31/11   40:5.9M                                   Donnelley … Solutions/FA
12/17/10  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         S-1/A                  8:4.7M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
11/09/10  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         S-1/A¶                14:6M                                     Toppan Merrill/FA
 9/29/10  Cornerstone OnDemand Inc.         S-19/28/10   18:6.3M                                   Toppan Merrill/FA
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